The four-test series between the world’s top two teams witnessed considerable acrimony after Smith gestured to his dressing room for assistance on whether to review an umpire’s lbw decision against him in the second test at Bengaluru.

Smith, who did not review, later admitted to the “brain fade” but his team dismissed Kohli’s charge that they had repeatedly resorted to the practice in the match won by India to level the four-match series for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

“It’s really offensive,” Saker told reporters. “It’s probably the worst thing you can be called is cheats, that’s an offensive thing.

“We’ve never done anything like that and we never will.”

The former England bowling coach said the Australian dressing room was surprised when Smith made the gesture.

“It’s pretty much absurd I think. When Steven Smith did look up, we were more horrified than anyone else because we’d never seen that before,” Saker said.

“We haven’t got any elaborate sign system and when he did do that it was quite a surprise to us.”